This isn’t one of those “there’s £x burning a hole in my pocket so let’s ask some strangers on the internet what they would spend it on” posts. There are great dive watches at all price points so the game is to set out your perfect selection. Needless to say I’m a desk diver and not a real one, but I seem to have gathered a dive watch or two, and at most of these price points I have something that ticks all boxes for me.
Rules are simple – each price point is +/- 25% with market prices that can encompass everything from SC to full retail from London jeweller, new or secondhand – in other words there is a fair bit of leeway.
Here are my answers, which having written them out now look quite boringly predictable:
£250 – I am going to nominate the PRS18, and I’m going quartz as we are in beater territory here and the battery life is incredible. The quality is hard to beat for the price. That said I sold mine, but have just bought a PRS82 which I am looking forward to trying out.
£500 – this would buy a nice used Seiko Tuna (I have two) and I'm wearing my vintage JDM Seiko 6306 today which I love, but my front runner here would be my trusty CWC – for me the CWC quartz diver on NATO is probably the ultimate beater.
£750 – this is a more difficult one, but after some head-scratching I am going vintage here and selecting my Seiko 6105, which oozes period charm and character. Besides, my list needs at least one Seiko on it.
£1000 – an easy one, although a worthy runner-up was my MM300. This goes to my Omega SMP quartz. Mine is full size, I love its blue bezel and wave pattern dial. Entry level “posh watch”.
£1500 – a no-contest one for me. This goes to my Black Bay. Mine has the red bezel and lives on its bracelet - very comfortable for its size and has attracted compliments even from "non watch" people. Nothing more to say there.
£2000 – a really difficult one for me as I don’t have anything at this price point. This money would have bought a non-snowflake Tudor sub not so long ago but I am not so sure it would now, but with the 25% leeway and if I accepted that it might need a spa and service that would be my choice. I wonder if I could find a blue lollipop at the price or is that asking too much? If I can’t run to one of the original Tudor subs then a Pelagos, please.
£3000 – another no contest for me – 14060 all the way, end of story. Mine is a keeper.
£4000- I don’t have anything at this price point and I am not sure even £4k would buy me that snowflake. But it would buy me a 16610, so I’ll take one of those please.
Finally £5000 and again for me a no-brainer – 5513 is the perfect wearable vintage dive watch, and mine is going nowhere.
At the 2K mark I think the obvious contender for me is the SMPc - used examples crop up on SC around the 1750 mark and dealers normally price them around 2.2K. Like your comment about the Quartz, a perfect intro into 'posh' automatics.
For the 4K mark agreed it's a bit harder - I think a titanium PO or PO chrono would be achievable and a strong shout. The chrono is way too big for me but hey, you can use the pushers underwater!
As a dive watch addict I couldn't let this one go, so here are my thoughts on the topic:
£250 - Seiko SKX 007 - After swapping out the bracelet for a strapcode one, it feels like a watch worth twice the price. I know it's been discontinued, but to me, this is a must have for dive watch fans, and a watch I really love owning.
£500 - There're are a couple here I could choose. I know some people don't like Steinhart due to homage/copy issues, but I don't mind that so much when the design is a homage to a watch long out of production. So, I'd go with my Steinhart Ocean Vintage, or Ocean Vintage Red here. Alternatively, I've a Seiko Prospex Turtle in blue, which is a great watch that comes in under this price point.
£750 - The only diver I have between here and £500 is the Steinhart Ocean 500 Titanium, which is probably my most worn watch these days. Really love it.
£1000 - Squale Atmos 50 - I got the black face with black quartered yellow bezel. Looks great on the milanese bracelet. Don't wear it a whole lot, but lovely watch.
£1500 - Don't have anything around this price point. I do like the look of the Tudor Black Bays though, or the Oris Divers 65 (the one with the dots on the dial rather than the numbers)
£2000 - I think my Doxa Sub 1500T came in at around this price when I got it. A big beast of a watch, and I absolutely love it. The orange face gets quite a few positive comments and makes for a really nice change with the other watches in my collection.
£3000 - Don't have anything at this point, and not really sure of what's out there in this ball park.
£4000 - Omega Planet Ocean - the new 43.5 mm one is in this price range, and is on my wish list.
£5000 - If you stretch this up a bit you're not far from Rolex Submariner prices. Another watch that I don't own, but is certainly on my wish list!
I'll add this one - £100 - A Seiko 5 - No guarantee it'd be WR below swimming depths, but if you just want the look...
£250 - A Citizen Eco Drive - I've got one (a BN0085-01E) and dive in it regularly. Perfect for actually diving in rather than chilling in Starbucks and distinctive enough not to look like a wannabe Rolex Sub.
£500 - Christopher Ward Trident - Not sure I'd buy one now, but they still look good in their ads and I'm told the latest have excellent quality. Steinhart would be up there (probably ahead) if they weren't such slavish Sub-alikes...
£750 - Longines Hydroconquest - You CAN dive in it and whilst the style's Sub-ish, the dial and some other features are distinctive. A favourite of mine.
£1000 - Dreadnought Voyager - A great tool watch - It took me a while to warm to it and I don't often wear mine at home, but it's perfect for Long Haul diving trips.
Above that, I get hazy...
£2000-3000 - Breitling Superocean Heritage - A handsome watch from any maker and remarkably understated for a modern Breitling (although not unique in that, the Transocean is too). Honourable mention to the Tudor Pelagos in this bracket, although it leaves me a bit cold and the Black Bay doesn't tick any boxes for me persoanlly, but I can see the appeal for some. This is really pushing my comfort zone on watch spending, though.
£3000-4000 - Seems about Omega Planet Ocean territory and it's an obvious inclusions somewhere - Too much for me though... It's unlikely I'd ever spend this much on any watch.
High end, I'd only consider a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, but I'd have to acknowledge the ubiquitous choice of the Rolex Sub somewhere there. Both are probably far over 5K though...
M.
Last edited by snowman; 12th January 2017 at 14:37.
£250 - Seiko Monster (default answer).
£500 - This is Longines Hydroconquest territory for me.
£750 - This is a weird price range... Oris Aquis diver or Ball Hydrocarbon pre-owned.... probably the Oris.
£1000 - Back to Longines, this time the LLD.
£1500 - I'd agree with the previous pre-owned Black Bay suggestion
£2000 - I had thought IWC Aquatimer.... but on 2nd thoughts it's got to be a pre-owned SMPc... cracking all round watch.
£3000 - Hmm... Pelagos perhaps.
£4000 - 14060m
£5000 - Can just about reach to a pre-owned Deepsea (if I use the extra 25%).
From my watches:
PRS29B (Dive watch, for up to £250, Id wear a G-Shock, probably 5600)
Speedbird GMT ( I'd better change this to my Dreadnought Voyager)
Hamilton Pan Europ Chrono (100m and a dive bezel)
SMP Quartz
SMPc
Planet Ocean 2500D
Bremont Terra Nova (if strictly dive watch I'll add the 14060, but probably head only now at this price point)
Ploprof 1200m
Sea-Dweller 16600
Last edited by Omegamanic; 13th January 2017 at 20:15. Reason: clarifying Dive Watch only
It's just a matter of time...
£250 - Precista PRS18a
£500 - Seiko PADI Turtle and some change
£750 - Certina DS2 PH200
£1000 - MM300 or Sinn U1
£1500 - Eterna KonTiki Super
£2000 - Pelagos
£3000 - Seiko 6159-7001
£4000 - IWC Auquatimer 3536
£5000 - 16600 SD
Last edited by andy tims; 13th January 2017 at 09:30.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
£250 Seiko Monster
£500 Certina DS / Glycine Sub
£750 Longine Hydro
£1000 Oris
£1250 Tag Aqua Racer
£1500 pre loved Seamaster
£1750 pre loved 2254.50 / 2298.80 Chrono diver
£2000 pre loved Breitling super oceans
£2500 pre loved IWC Aqua timer
£3000 new Seamaster
£3500 pre loved Rolex sub any condition
£4000 pre loved newer Rolex Subs box papers
£4500 Pre loved Deepsea
£5000 SM300 Spectre / Girard Perregaux Seahawk
£6000-£100,000 Rare and collectibles dominated by Rolex with Omega, Blancpain , JLC , military issued etc
Had fun doing this
£250 - mid size Seiko Quartz 6458 - early 80's wearable and fun
£500 - Seiko 6309 - Cool old vintage one
£750 - Lip Nautic Ski - super compressor loveliness
£1000 - certina pH200 - 70's cool
£1500 - Rodania Waterman - bold super compressor
£2000 - Yema Yachtinggraf - doubt its very diveable, but, has a bezel!!
£4000 - EBERHARD Scafograf - old and vintage please
£5000 - Heuer Autavia - has a bezel!!!
Last edited by Wolfie; 12th January 2017 at 22:47.
£250 - Seiko turtle SRP777
£500 - Seiko SUMO blue version SBDC003
£750 - Longines hydroconquest automatic
£1000 - tag f1 grande date quartz
£1500 - tag heuer aquaracer automatic
£3000 - Tudor pelagos bluey
£4000 - speedmaster moon watch
£5000 - mint used submariner date ceramic version
£6000 - mint used Rolex seadweller 4k
Speedmaster a dive watch ha ha,
mike
Oh, do we only get one go? Can I swap out my£1500 Pre loved Seamaster (covered by £1750 bracket) to an Eterna 1973.
Thank you!
I never realised some of these watches were dive watches.
The Speedmaster Pro certainly isn't.Originally Posted by mowflow
Good point, updated :)
It's just a matter of time...
£250 - PRS18q
£500 - All original and mint 6309-7040
£750 - All original 6105-8110
£1000 - Omega Seamaster Quartz 2264
£2000 - Omega 2500d Planet Ocean orange indices and bezel. With change left for beer
£3000 - Tudor Blue Sub 79090
£4000 - Rolex Sub 2-liner. Again with change for beer
£5000 - Loose Rolex Sub 5513
Your list and mine are very similar. Needless to say I compliment you on your taste, Sir...
And I sir raise a hefty glass to my mother's son. God bless him
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